










/.•^^-.V .c°'..^^.>o ./\.i;^,\ / 















-f*. A** 












. r>^ . « • • 














'bV" 



.^" ... 

























^ » 



"^^^ c-^^ 



^>«i- 

\.>. 








aV^^ 




Abraham Lincoln 




AN ADDRESS 

By CHARLES EUGENE CLARK 

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE KENTUCKY STATE LEAGUES 
OF LOCAL BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS 



Abraham Lincoln 



AN ADDRESS 

By CHARLES EUGENE CLARK 

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE KENTUCKY STATE LEAGUES 
OF LOCAL BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS 



3 



By transfer 
The White House. 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 

AX ADDRESS 

r>y Charles Eugene Clark, 

Piesident (if tlie I'liited States- and the Kentucky State Leagues of I.dcal Building and 

Loan Associations. 

H^P.RAHAM LINCOLN, the centenary of whose birth we 
celebrate today, has won the chief ])lace in American 
liearts. lie has become our ])i)])ular hero, our typical 
, American, the ])roudest ])ro(luct of our institutions, the 
n;iblest fji'rowth of our soil. 

We honor and love him because he was a man of the people, 
of the common ])eo]jle ; bone of their bone, and Hesh of their fl^sh ; 
born among the lowliest of them, in Hardin County, Kentucky, 
b'ebruary 12, 1809, the son of a poor, unlearned pioneer farmer 
and backwoods carpenter, and reared in the wildness with them in 
the greatest poverty and want, living their lowly life and ]xartak- 
ing of their hunger and misery, of their hopes and fears. 

As the growing oak is toughened and str_engthened in fibre 
by the blasts of the forest, until it becomes a towering giant among 
its surroundings, so the boy, Abraham, learned in the earlv strug- 
gles of life, while his father followed his humble calling, to so 
shai)e his own course, and life, as to enable him in the years to 
come, to build a character that made him a Cod-given force and 
power among men, to mold the thought of his adopted State and 
of his nation, and guide the ship of state through troubled waters, 
to the glory and honor of all mankind. 

Abraham Lincoln, while he arose a giant, in every sense of 
the word, among men, never forg.it his lowly origin ; nor per- 
mitted himself to get out of touch with the humble and the lowlv ; 
but always felt and sympathized with them ; for with them he had 
experienced the misery and grayness of their every-day life, and 
caught the heart-beat of the masses as he lived their lowly life, 
Ijecause he understood them and their trials and sufferings. 

Even as a little boy he knew hunger and cold, miserv and un- 
recjuited toil, in a rude log cabin. Ilis couch was a bed of leaves 
on the bare floor, with skins at the door's entrance to kee|) out the 
rain, the snow and the cold. 

Can we then wonder why he was beloved by the masses ? 

The idols of the popular heart have ever been poor men ; men 
who have suffered and have sympathies in common with them. 

These experiences, which were continued through his vouth 
and early manhood, knitted him in close sympathy with the suffer- 
ing and afflictions of his fellow-men and country and enabled him 
to see and view the world and its trials as they found and experi- 
enced theuL 

We are told that he split four hundred rails for each yard of 
jeans, for which the rails were bartered, in order to secure suffi- 
cient cloth for a suit of clothes. Those of you who have ever 
cut a tie, or sjilit a rail, realize the price he paid for that suit of 



— 4 - 

jeans. This surely was the ])orti()n and dowry of hardest, most 
liitter toil. 

Wdien first elected to the I.egislature in Illinois, he walked one 
hundred miles, over the rough country roads of Clay and Corduroy, 
to the State Capitol at \'andalia, and then, at the close of the 
session, back home again. He walked because his necessities and 
desire to succeed in life forced him to economize. 

Lincoln in his youth had little schooling, as we understand the 
term, but he was rich in many and varied experiences and was 
deeply learned in two books unknown to many profound readers — 
The Book of Nature and the Book of Man. 

And yet, in this backwoods lawyer, the country woke up to 
the fact that it had a President of genuine culture and great in- 
tellectual power. For Lincoln, by hi.s own heroic efforts, with the 
kindly help of his rude pioneer friends, arose above his unlettered 
surroundings and thus demonstrated that it is possible under our 
free institutions, for all men, no matter how lowly their condition, 
who possess the will and force, to rise, even though they be clogged 
and beset with dire poverty and want. A^ecessity is ever the spur 
to exertion, and opportunity the door to preferment and advance- 
ment. 

This successful struggle of Lincoln's is one of the great lessons 
of his life and one of our greatest assets as a people, and should 
be taken to heart by every struggling soul. 

Integrity makes for character and spells success, and so we 
hear Lincoln called '"Honest Abe Lincoln." Yes, he was rightly 
so called, for rugged honesty, sincerit\' and integrity were among 
the chief characteristics of this most wonderful man, upon which 
he builded an unassailable character, ever the true foundation of 
greatness. 

He never forgot them, but aluays lived up to them in the most 
minute details of his life. And we are even told that he was too 
honest to make a good lawyer or to make money. Yet he became, 
in the opinion of competent judges, j^erhaps the greatest lawyer 
in his State, and was a feared antagonist at the bar. His ability 
and rugged honesty, sincerity and openness carried conviction, and 
won many a judge and jury. His services were ever enlisted to 
redress wrongs and establish truth and justice. 

He was the most homely of men. with his great lank, angular 
face and figure, being six feet four inches tall, with long-reaching 
arms, big, ungainly hands, caloused with the hard ])ioneer work 
of his early life. 'S'et his countenance literally beamed with honest, 
loving kindness, truth and syni])ath_\', and his great arms encdui- 
passed the woes and trials of his cuntry, as he took them tt) his 
breast and grieved over them ; and his large, caloused hands, the 
result of laborious toil, were clean and midehled from all corrup- 
tion, and bore the burdens of his country and ministered to the 
])ain and suffering of her soldiers, wrote the Emancipation Procla- 
mati.:n, which freed twelve million slaves and made out pardcMis for 
tired soldiers who, suffering from excessive ser\ice, went to sleep 



while on duty, or who had, in fear or timichty, lied in tlie face of 
the enemy, had heen condemned to death hy court martial. 

Lincoln knew the weaknesses and frailties of human nature 
and all its limitations, and always helieved in the goodness of 
heart of all mankind. He, in spite of all ]irotests and those rules 
of war made for the discii)line of the service, refused to he a partv 
til the making of more widows and orphans through the execution 
of Union soldiers, for infractions of the stern laws of war. 

He was a horn leader, a man of hrains, of heart and sympathy, 
who came fresh from the hand of Almighty (iod to serve and 
save his country and to ennohle mankind. He was indeed Nature's 
Xohleman. one who was not only a ])olitician, ])ut a statesman, a 
partisan, also a patriot ; and his partisanshi]) was rounded out hy 
his love of country and high sense of duty, while his nohility and 
gentleness attuned him to all humanity, to which he willingly gave 
the last measure of unselfish service. 

He was an assiduous student, so far as time and o])portunity 
pernntted him to be, and he devoted every spare moment to the 
reading of such books on grammar, politics, surveying and law 
as was possible for him to find or borrow ; and he mastered them, 
making them his very own. 

His schoolmasters were said to be three — "an invincible will, 
a boundless patience and an eager thirst for knowledge." FVom 
the schooling of these masters, he emerged a truly educated man; 
for he conquered not only his books, but also himself, and became 
wise in his day and generation. 

Like lUmyan, he s]:)oke and wrote in the language of the 
people, such as they could fully com])rehend and understand. Ilis 
statements were clear, masterful and ]irofound. He never learned 
the art of saying one thing and meaning another. Candor and 
frankness to him were cardinal virtues. As statesman and Presi- 
dent, he became imbued with all the learning necessary to enable 
him to successfully handle the mighty problems affecting his 
country. His state papers and speeches are literary masterpieces 
and have continued to excite the wonder and admiration of man- 
kind. Their grandeur lies in their directness and force, sincerity. 
sim])]icity. humanity and beauty. 

His inaugurals and his speech at Gettysburg will live in the 
minds and hearts of his countrymen as long as our land and 
language shall endure ; for they are the personification of patriotism 
and statesmanship and have sounded the very depths of human 
feeling. 

Almighty (iod, in His boundless wisdom, raised up this leader 
of men. out of the western wilderness, as a modern ]\loses, to 
lead our nation through the turmoil and travail of war. out of 
the sloughs of despondency and degradation, through a baptism of 
calunniy, doubt, heartaches, fire and blood, to greater moral heights 
and true national greatness, freed of the shackles of slavery and 
tlie bitter dissensions and acrimonious disjiutes of its sons, to 
])erfect ])eace, brotherly love and accord. 



— G — 

Lincoln was one of the gentlest souls ever born into this world. 
He was a kindly man. the loving, compassionate father of his 
peojile : one who took unto himself their many and grievous 
burdens. He rejoiced in their prosperity and happiness and keenly 
felt and sympathized with them in their woes. He was ever an 
inspiration to them in their hours of supreme trial and affliction, 
and pointed the way to the light, when darkness had gathered over 
them and hope had fled. The beatitudes of the Sermon on the 
A fount were ever reflected in his daily life and conduct. 

He was an humble man. He never ascribed unto himself any 
feats of greatness, nor paraded his virtues, but ever mindful of 
the omnipotence and mercies of our Heavenly Father, always 
attributed all the strength and glory of the accomplishment of his 
life and administration to the people and to God. He was pure 
in heart, upright in conduct, the soul of honesty and manliness, 
and, knowing the weaknesses of our ])oor human nature and its 
dependence, always invoked the assistance of Divine Providence 
upon all of his and the nation's undertakings. He walked with 
God, as he prayed for Divine guidance, strength and succor, and 
was blest with victory. 

In the eyes of the world that knew him best, he was ever ac- 
counted a man of unblemished life, a kind neighbor and a depend- 
able friend, one who had learned to trust in Providence, to honor 
the iiible and respect the Sabbath ; to pray, to worship his Creator, 
love Christ and consider nothing human alien to him. His great, 
kindly heart ever encompassed humanity. 

lie was said to be an absolutely brave man; one without 
physical or moral fear, ever ready to champion and succor the 
weak, the needy and the downtrodden, to forgive the erring and 
raise the fallen. He was a tactful man and had a great leader's 
indispensable gift, in dealing with men and in molding events and 
in analyzing motives. 

IJy his gentleness, tenderness and tactfulness, he was able to 
contn-l the policy and bent of his Cabinet, the administrative 
servants of the Nation; to lead the Generals in the field and 
subdue the complaints of the soldiers at the front and the civilians 
at home, and to avoid those entangling foreign complications that 
might have led to misunderstandings. 

By his firmness and aggressiveness he thwarted foreign op])osi- 
tion to the cause of the Union, compelled the nations of the eartli 
to re-spect its wishes and edicts, and brought to a successful close, 
four years of most horrililc civil war. witli the l^ninn uninij^aired, 
and was idolized by his cduntryincn. 

And though he died a martyr i<>y luimanity, yet his most 
lamentable death was not in vain, idr by his life, sacrifices and death 
lie jn-oved in the sui)reme Imur that he had merited the niartvr's 
cn»wn of greatest service, in the cause of his camtry and that of 
luimanity. 

I le proved that though this Ivrpuhlic might he torn and ravished 
by great political c'vil, an<l fraliridaj strife, even tliat of civil war 



— 7 — 

it could vet endure the greatest climax of horrors without disin- 
tegration, and that the faith of the fathers was well founded, that 
the ]:)riceless heritage of a free people and a free land had heen 
worthily bestowed upon worthy sons and daughters, which they 
treasured as a priceless guerdon, and that this nation of the people, 
for the people, and by the people, should not perish from the earth, 
and that the greatness of a state only emphasizes the hapi:)iness 
and contentment of its citizens who are its sovereigns. 

He demonstrated that its flag and its sentiments shall ever fly 
on the wings of the morning, carrying for all time, and to all 
peoples throughout the world, the blessings of Liberty and the 
Equality of all men, before the Law ; that true government rests 
only on the full consent of the governed ; that involuntary slavery 
and servitude, except as a punishment for crime committed, can- 
not and should not exist among an enlightened people, one that 
acknowledges the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. 

In the language of the attic philosopher, Abraham Lincoln, 
povertv stricken biy, enured to hardshi]) and service, statesman. 
President and martyr, was but another member of that noble 
phalanx that has always marched in front, for the example and 
salvation of the world. 

For this brave soldier's war cry was Home, Happiness, Free- 
dom. Equality, Country, Humanity — God. His standard was that 
of Duty. For him was the Divine law of Self-sacrifice. He had 
learned that to love something more than one's self was the secret 
of all that is Great, and to live for others is the aim of all Noble 
Souls, and that the supreme expression of life and religion, upon 
this earth, is that of greatest service. 

His life was sincere and honest and without material blemish. 
He wrought for the good of his country and of mankind, as he 
bore his high commission, seeking Divine guidance in its exercise 
from the King of Kings. 

His birth and life have hallowed the log cal)in and enshrined 
il in the hearts of humanity, as it became the cradle of greatness, 
sur])assing the splendor of the palace. 

His humble life, with its early hardships, has won the admira- 
tion of mankind. For through it he rose to the pinnacles of 
Fame, I'ower and Earthly Grandeur. And the integrity of his life 
and conduct and its successes have become an ins])iration to strug- 
gling humanity. 

The people have learned to love and cherish him, to revere his 
memory and keep time to the music of his heart, as his life and 
mission have ever become better known to them with the ])assing 
years. 

He was great in life, great in death, and is great in history. 
He was imique in character and majestic in his individuality ; 
fashioned of God in a heroic mold, for a heroic purpose, a savior 
of his country and a blessing to humanity, as he wrought heroically 
in a supreme hour for his country's good and honor. He was 
solid and brilliant and is easilv the First American. 



As he clomb every rung of the ladder of Life, from direst 
poverty to the Presidential chair, he illustrated to the fullest and 
widest extent the possibility of American citizenship and the bless- 
ings of free institutions, where all men are equal before the law. 

It has been truly said, "that his biography was written in blood 
and tears ;" for not only had he known the misery of every-day 
life, the common heritage of mankind, had felt its greatest sor- 
rows, which attuned him in experience and suffering, with that 
monotone of sadness, which has ever enveloped, crushed, raised 
and enriched humanity, but had also mounted the highest ramparts 
of human accomplishment and feeling and tasted earth's greatest 
joys, so that uncounted millions rise and call him blessed, and a 
redeemed and reunited Republic and people is his monument. 

His was indeed a simple, yet a sublime life, worthy of our 
undying emulation. In his service and sacrifices for his country, 
and in his forgiving disposition, he is suggestive of the mercy of the 
Savior of mankind. And though human, in a sense divine, for he 
has touched the chords of life, which make the whole world kin. 

His name and fame are prouder and higher and will outlast that 
of the Hapsburgs and are "more enduring than statues of bronze 
and marble, for they are enshrined in the hearts and memory of 
all mankind. For his supreme service was for God, Country and 
Humanity. 

May we be ever mindful that our Heavenly Father in His 
boundless wisdom in the fulfillment of His purposes, working His 
will through His chosen of the nation, the annointed, patient and 
immortal Lincoln, kept kindled the fires oi loyalty and patriotism 
as they oft flickered and burned low on the altars of our country 
and freedom for the salvation of the Union during the prolonged 
and frightful struggles of the war for human rights, as it dragged 
its bloody course through the years, with its harrowing and vary- 
ing fortunes. 

{''or as Jehovah commanded the High Priest to preserve for 
the governance of His people and keep within the Ark of the 
Covenant in the Holy of Holies, His commandments, so He en- 
trusted the lightning of His wrath and the integrity of our nation 
to .Vbraham Lincoln, as he was called to serve mankind and save 
the State. 

As His High I'riest, this chosen leader not only wielded with 
awful power the Sword of Destiny, but also officiated at the first 
CDmmunion of our pco])le as the stricken nation gathered at the 
Throne of Grace to seek balm for its wounds, to heal its woes, 
forget its difi^erences, to ask for and extend forgiveness for all 
of its shortcomings, render thanks for all mercies and seek of the 
Most High, for all time to come, the Divine Guidance of Heaven. 

As God in His mercy raised up this heroic figure from among 
the children of men to lead our nation to the light and freedom 
in that greatest crisis of our existence as a people, may He in 
the exercise of a boundless patience and goodness, should annihila- 
tion again confront us, send to us, as He may find us worthy of 
worldlv salvation, another Abraham Lincoln. 

wee 



.<^^ 






. o > 



/.•;.;^-\ c°*.^^^.'^°o /.c;^/ 






.^-^^^ 






vP 7 



4 <> 



V\fRT 



WTiKI 
BOOKBINDING 






Ujfcri kt>r<> 1989 






^ 
. -^^ 



